Senate yesterday directed its committee on National Security and Intelligence to conduct an investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the action of the Department of State Security (DSS) leading to the invasion of Ekiti State House of Assembly just as it directed Federal Government to deploy all resources to ensure that the killings going on in Taraba State is stamped out.
Senate reached this resolution following an outcry by Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South) on the recent invasion of the men of DSS to the Ekiti State House of Assembly while committee meetings were on going, an illegality that took place on Friday 4th March, 2016.
The Senator further informed her colleagues that more than 10 DSS operatives armed to the teeth took Ekiti lawmakers to hostage and were shooting sporadically into the air, causing panic and possible stampede.
She said, “At the end of the commotion created by this barbaric act, four members of the House of Assembly could not be found with news filtering in during the weekend that Hon. Afolabi Akanni, the member representing Efon Constituency was abducted and taken to Abuja”.
She also recalled how Akwa Ibom State Government House was earlier invaded by same DSS without any formal explanation as to the reason for the invasion.
According to Olujimi, “The action of the service is outside the scope of its mandate and the National Assembly as the highest law making body in the country must step in to defend and uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended by which they were elected and sworn to uphold. I am afraid that we shall degenerate into a state of Gestapo. We must condemn it in the strongest terms so that we do not allow democracy to be uprooted at the grass root”.
Senator Isiaka Adeleke was opposed the allegation that the invasion was a political vendetta, saying that he would be more comfortable if the relevant committee is allowed to investigate the matter before senate jumps into hasty conclusions.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe quoting relevant sections of the constitution said that in the 7th Assembly, several unsuccessful attempts were made to tame the frequent invasion of legislative houses by security operatives but each attempt met a brick wall. Referring to the “Legislative Houses Powers and Priviledges Act”, passed in 1953 which is still subsisting, Abaribe informed Senate that before any stranger can invade a legislative house, its offices, the court yards, and other ancillary areas, a there must be permission from the management of the legislative house.
Condemning the Invasion, Abaribe continued, “If it is established that some persons invaded a legislative chamber, then a law has been broken”.
Abaribe equally challenged his colleagues to find the institution saddled with security in a legislative house, insisting that if it is the sergeant at arms, then there is a need to review these laws.
Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume while condemning the action of the DSS pointed out that in a democracy, there are three arms of government with its laws, rights and privileges.
“What happened was wrong and we need to say it like that. As a government of change, what happened was not right. We have to tell whoever is responsible that what happened was wrong.” Ndume said.
Senator Ib’n Na’ Allah threw the plenary into commotion when he said that senate should take notice that Ekiti state has always been running outside the envelope. He said that it is public knowledge that during the last election, some elements were disguised as DSS and equipped to help in manipulating the Ekiti elections. “We must tread cautiously with regard to any information that is coming from Ekiti” Na’Allah insists.
On the different note, Senate called for the condemnation of the Killings, Kidnappings, destructions of property, and farmlands going on in Taraba, calling on Security chiefs to deploy more security into Taraba to curtail the killings.
The lawmakers called on the relevant committees to visit the affected states so as to get firsthand information on the extent of killings going on in various states of the federation.
Senator Bwacha in a motion said, “The insurgents running away from the fire power of the military, are relocating to safe haven in Taraba State where a notorious Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Sokoto, who masterminded the bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla in Niger State on the Christmas Day of 2011, where 42 people were killed was arrested in Mutum-Biyu, the headquarters of Gassol LGA of the State on February 10, 2012 in his hideout”
Senator Barnabas Gemade seconding the motion said “we have seen many motions on this subject matter. It is because this matter is very critical. I raised a motion on this in the 7th senate and a team of senators went round the country. In Zamfara, about 750 persons were wiped out in one dayby these criminals. It is evident that criminals are using this opportunity to unleash mayhem on the people”.
Senator Gemade said that the consequences of desertification led to a struggle between Fulani herdsmen and farmers; noting that criminals used this opportunity to massacre people. “As I speak today, Agatu in Benue State is still under siege”.
He said that the challenge has come now where government must help to transform deserts into arable lands so that the movement of cattle’s and farms will be restricted on ranches adding we must separate sedentary farmers from pastural farmers.